For all of you who wanted to know the weird and amusing behavior patterns of Mumbaikars but didn’t know who to ask, look no further. This article is an answer to your prayers. Read ahead for enlightenment.
- HIGHLY OPINIONATED
Yes, the people over here have a take on everything. Bollywood, Politics, Food, TV Shows or even things like the weather are hot topics of discussion for the Mumbaikars. Talk about the heat and any rikshawallah becomes your buddy. What’s ironic is that at times you’ll find the 60 year olds criticizing a certain actress’ performance in a movie or daily soap and you may find teenagers voicing their opinion about the Government and social issues on social media. I wouldn’t call this being judgmental, rather being active and aware of the latest happenings.
BEING FILMY
Being filmy runs in the Mumbaikar’s blood. Don’t be surprised if you find them quoting bollywood film dialogues in normal conversations, dancing to bollywood songs at almost every kind of celebration, wooing someone in total SRK style, or showing anger like Mr. Amitabh Bachchan! These are the people who have watched their favourite movies a zillion times and are proud to boast about it. Every boy here thinks that he can draw any girl’s attention simply by mouthing famous bollywood lyrics. For example “Tu Cheez Badi hai mast mast” was a craze for years!
- HOMESICK FOR MUMBAI
Mumbaikars slog the whole year round and wait eagerly for their summer breaks to finally arrive. And when that happens, with extreme excitement they start their packing for their respective trips, short or long. After 2 days of clicking selfies at exotic locations, eating rich hotel food, a bit of shopping and sightseeing, Mumbaikars already get home sick and start pining for home. I guess no amount of luxury, travel or adventure can substitute the homeliness of Mumbai.
- MAID IN MUMBAI
Guess who is the most important person in the Mumbaikars’ house? The maid of course! Wait, what were you thinking? Parents being highly busy earning the daily bread and children being involved with their studies who do you think takes the credit for keeping the house spick and span? Yes our very loving maids (who also demand exorbitant salaries month after month, anyway conveniently ignoring that). Moreover, Mumbaikars don’t mind sharing their food, sharing the auto, sharing their credit or sharing the blame but they no way like to share their maid.
- IMPORTANT TASK OF THE DAY
The MOST important task of the day for Mumbaikars is neither a business meeting nor a family get-together but it is all about boarding a 9:02 Mumbai local. Don’t be shocked if you find dapper gentlemen and dainty ladies running like absolute maniacs at the railway stations. It is just to be able to get a seat for the next 1 hour of travel, at the least. And when they do get a seat, preferably window, then every Mumbaikar does a victory dance in their minds! The people you encounter daily in your train compartment become as good as family to the Mumbai commuters. Birthday celebrations, backbiting, hot gossip, work issues – everything is a part and parcel of everyday’s train commute.
- BIGGEST CRIME – ASKING FOR CHANGE
Whether you’re travelling in a local bus, or you’re buying vegetables from a vendor, asking for change is like committing a crime. The vendor in most cases may simply refuse to give you the vegetables and the bus conductor may grumble till your stop arrives. It gets more embarrassing when the other commuters turn and glare at the guilty one! This is usual, except in the case of the odd sweet conductor you could chance upon.
- THE SOBO FACTOR
Mumbai clearly has two defined classes, those from South Mumbai and those from the “Burbs”. The SoBo crowd (South Bombay) has always prided themselves as being the townies while their country cousins from suburbs such as Bandra, Andheri, Mira Road and beyond are looked upon as lesser mortals living on the wrong side of the tracks. This is only a mental prejudice that we have because people from the Suburbs are as much fun and happening as their counterparts from South Bombay. After all, it takes both sides to complete Mumbai
No matter how weird, how different, and at times how crazy we Mumbaikars can be, we seem to have our hearts in the right place!
